Remarks to U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, 1 August 1963

This file contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning President Kennedy's remarks to students of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. In his speech the President welcomes the freshman class...

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NAUAL ACADEMY AUGUST 1,1963 1. Might mention the importance of history and tradition in molding our lives and setting our goals for the future. Can connect with vist to the museum where you will have seen documents and mementos from all our great battles and great Naval heroes, and ship models dating as far back as the 17th century. 2. Standing on the steps of BANCROFT hall you will be surrounded by naval history. 3. BANCROFT HALL was named after Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft who founded the Naval School at Annapolis in 1845. 4. As you look out toward Mahan Hall you will see the statue of TECUMSEH, which is a replica of the original figurehead taken from the USS DELAWARE. This is a replica, but the original is in LUCE HALL. When the original weathered badly the Class of 1891 replaced the timbers with bronze and sealed within it the pipe, arrows and tomahawk 5. On your right you will see the Japanese bell which Commodore Peary brought back from Japan. On your left is a bell from the carrier ENTERPRISE which was brought to the Academy in 1950. The ENTERPRISE bell is rung for victories over Army in football and soccer. The Japanese bell, commemorative of the opening of Jäpan to the U.S., is a lucid example of the breadth of responsi- bility and capability that a naval officer must have. Being able to fight a war is not enough! 6. As you look out over the Plebe class you will see a cross section of America and of some of its allies.